Princess Anne makes three visits in Harrogate before flying south

Harrogate was favoured with a rare royal visit today, when Princess Anne made three separate appearances in the town. 

As patron of the UK’s two Police Treatment Centres, the Princess Royal visited the new clinical services wing at St Andrews PTC on Harlow Moor Road.

The PTCs treat injured and ill police members through its physiotherapy and psychological wellbeing programmes, and the new facility was created to meet the increased demand for psychological wellbeing support.

Patrick Cairns, chief executive of the PTC, said:

“For Her Royal Highness to convey her support for the police treatment centres by becoming our patron is a tremendous honour for our charity and it is clear that the Princess Royal understands the challenges that the police service are currently under and the work that we do in treating ill and injured police officers for a range of physical and mental health injuries.”

Credit: Tim Hardy.

The princess then headed to Starbeck charity Claro Enterprises, whose commercial workshops enable people with long-term mental health conditions to function in a real work environment. 

It was the princess’s second visit to Claro Enterprises; her first visit 30 years ago prompted several changes at the charity, including the development of ongoing revenue streams via partnerships with some of the region’s best-known companies, such as Betty’s, Farrah’s and Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen, maker of Mouseman furniture. 

Claro Enterprises general manager Owen Jones said: 

“It was a real privilege to receive a second visit from Princess Anne today. We had about 40 people here to meet her and they loved it.

“She was great – from the moment she got out of the car, she was relaxed and very personable, talking to everybody and taking a real interest in what they do. It was fantastic.” 

Finally, she headed up Station Parade and dropped in on Woods Fine Linen, the long-established family business which has supplied royal households since it was founded in 1895.  

Photo of the Princess Royal meeting William Woods and staff at Woods of Harrogate.

William Woods and his daughter, interior design director Sarah Woods (second left), greet the Princess Royal as crowds look on.

William Woods, chief executive of Woods Fine Linen, told the Princess Royal: 

“Words cannot adequately describe our gratitude and appreciation of your visit today. It means a huge amount to us all and encourages us to maintain our family values of quality, high standards and sustainability in everything we do. We have never been part of the throwaway society.” 

Mr Woods presented the princess with a selection of products, including one of his company’s famous linen dishcloths and a luxury pillow wrapped in brown paper and string — as has been the tradition at Woods for over 125 years.

He also gave her the two volumes of Wells and Swells: The Golden Age of Harrogate Spa, 1842–1923, by his good friend and local historian, the late Malcolm Neesam. 

Photo of the royal helicopter that landed on the Stray and then took Princess Anne to West Yorkshire.

The royal helicopter landed on the Stray and then took Princess Anne to West Yorkshire. Photo: Lucy Arundel.

Mr Woods added: 

“Her Royal Highness was delightful. She’s a very knowledgeable lady, and she’d clearly done her homework.”

The Princess Royal, 73, has long been regarded as one of the hardest-working royals – last year, she attended 214 engagements – and following her three stops in Harrogate, her helicopter took off from the Stray to take her to further engagements in West Yorkshire.

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Royal visitor to meet shopkeepers on parade in Harrogate

Business owners on a parade of shops in Harrogate are getting ready for a rare royal visit.

Anne, Princess Royal will be dropping in on Prince Albert Row – which is named after her great-great-great-grandfather – at the top end of Station Parade.

The Grade II listed buildings are home to some of Harrogate’s longest-established and respected businesses, including Woods Fine Linen, which has supplied royal households since it was founded in 1895.

William Woods, of Woods Fine Linen, said:

“Prince Albert Row is such a beautiful part of Harrogate and somewhere we are incredibly proud to be a part of. It is truly is a great honour to be welcoming Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal and to be sharing this experience with our neighbours and friends.”

In preparation for the visit, which will take place on Wednesday, September 20, retailers led by Woods have produced a leaflet highlighting the businesses on Prince Albert Row, which has been distributed to hotels and tourist information centres across the region.

The Harrogate BID and Harrogate Chamber of Commerce have also been ensuring the row of shops looks its best, sprucing up exteriors and giving street furniture a new lick of paint.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“We’re pleased to be supporting the royal visit through our in-house street ranger repainting street furniture, presenting additional floral displays on Prince Albert Row, as well as helping the businesses distribute their new leaflet.

“The royal visit is certain to further shine a spotlight on Prince Albert Row and Harrogate as a great place to visit, for its beautiful buildings as well as fantastic shops.”

Martin Mann, acting chief executive of Harrogate District. Chamber of Commerce, added:

“We are all looking forward to welcoming the Princess Royal to Harrogate and working together to ensure she gets to see Harrogate at our best.”

Pictured above: Left to right: Helen James of Helen James Flowers; Jonathan Woods, director of Woods of Harrogate; Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID; Francesca MacLaverty of Woods Fine Linen; Martin Mann of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce; Gillian Vincent of Rigby & Peller; Stephen Gee of Stephen Neall Interiors; Sarah Woods, director of William Woods Interiors; Richard Staples of Bang & Olufsen; and Jesper Callisa, owner of Jespers Bar & Kitchen. 

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